It was just 15 years ago that the community of the Servants of the Plan of God was founded. It began in Peru in 1988 with nine young women who wished to commit their lives to serving God in the poor and marginalized. Today, just 15 years later, their community is present not only in many countries of Latin America but also in the Philippines and Angola, and it continues to attract numerous new vocations. Many of the young women in this community of consecrated life are doctors, lawyers, teachers and nurses. They range in age from 18 to 44 years old.

Wherever they are present, the Sisters care for the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged. The community has been present in the Archdiocese of Guayaquil, in Ecuador, for eight years now. Initially there were five Sisters, but now there are already 13. They care for 60 girls and young women with various forms of mental disability.

As one Sister explained, "In many countries of Latin America, people with disabilities can expect no help from the state. If the families are poor, they have very little possibility of properly caring for their handicapped children. Through our work we also want to change the general attitude of people towards those with disabilities. They need to experience love and the feeling of being wanted. Then they can develop many more talents!"

By working together with local employers, the Sisters have managed to enable 40 young women with learning difficulties to obtain jobs and so become more independent. Many of these women help prepare desserts for local restaurants, for example.

The Sisters help many disadvantaged young people gain some kind of vocational qualifications, and they teach adults who have had no schooling to read and write. They are also active in teaching the faith: every week over 300 children attend their catechetical and religious instruction. The Sistersorganize retreat days for adults, children and young people, and accompany those who are still searching for God. They also visit the local villages and help the people there with medicines and other necessities.

Currently the Sisters have no permanent house of their own which they can use, not only for their personal and religious life but also for their wider social activities, and so they have turned to ACN for help. We have promised them $9,900. Will you support the building of this home for these religious Sisters serving the poor in Ecuador? We are sure they will gratefully remember you in their prayers

This project is an example of our work. Your donation will be attributed either to this or to another similar project that accords with the pastoral needs that ACN witnesses.